February 13, 2025

This post was written prior to Lucy Rubin’s successful Silenced Scores event (Feb 19, 2025).

Silenced Scores: Rediscovering Chamber Music of World War II’s Forbidden Composers is a student project led by MSM flute master’s student Lucy Rubin. This lecture recital sheds light on suppressed musicians of the era, celebrates their resilience, preserves their works, and ensures that their legacy inspires future generations. Silenced Scores will take place on Wednesday, FEB 19, at 7:30 PM in Miller Recital Hall.

We sat down with Lucy to discuss her project, the research process, and why people should come to this recital. Silenced Scores is part of MSM’s Special Projects Initiative. 

MEET LUCY

Originally from Highland Park, Illinois, Lucy Rubin (MM ’25) is a second-year master’s student studying under the tutelage of Linda Chesis. Her international performances include the Mostly Modern Festival in the Netherlands, the Berlin Opera Academy in Germany, and PRISMA in Canada. Lucy has received numerous awards, most recently earning third prize in the 2024 Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia Young Artist Competition. She is also part of the 2025 OAcademy Music Conservatory Cohort, working toward an Artist Diploma in Performance Leadership and a Contemporary Collaboration Certificate.

Lucy’s areas of research include forbidden and forgotten music from World War II and the Holocaust, through which she aims to tell a story of resilience through silenced music; the discography of Joni Mitchell; and historical performance practice. She holds degrees in Music Performance and Music Theory from the University of Georgia.

MSM STUDENT PROJECT

Silenced Scores: 
Rediscovering Chamber Music of WWII’s Forbidden Composers

FEB 19 | WED
7:30 PM

Free, no tickets required 

Miller Recital Hall

What is Silenced Scores?

Lucy: Silenced Scores is a project dedicated to uncovering and performing chamber music written and arranged by composers whose works were forbidden, censored, or nearly lost during World War II and the Holocaust. Through research, performance, and educational outreach, this initiative brings forgotten voices back to the stage, shedding light on the resilience and artistry of these composers. This performance will feature pieces written throughout the lives of composers who were silenced, including before, during, and after the Nazi regime. By reviving their music, Silenced Scores aims to honor the legacy of these musicians and ensure that their contributions to the musical world are never forgotten.

Why will people want to come to this performance?

Lucy: Silenced Scores is more than just a concert—it’s an opportunity to experience music that was nearly lost to history. This program revives the works of composers whose voices were suppressed during the Holocaust, and as many of these works have only been recently rediscovered, their performance today is both a rare and vital act of remembrance. Through powerful chamber music performances, audiences will not only hear beautiful and compelling works but also gain a deeper understanding of the historical and cultural impact of these composers. By attending this event, concertgoers will be honoring the legacy of these musicians, ensuring that more lost and forgotten music of this era will be performed.

What sparked your interest in this type of music?

Lucy: I have always been interested in this type of music because this era has played a large role in my identity — however, I began diving deeper into this topic when I was looking for new music with my flute, harp, and viola trio. I discovered a piece by Dutch composer Leo Smit, who was able to give his untitled and unnamed music to a friend before being taken to the concentration camps, where he soon perished. Learning about Smit’s story and hearing his music, which so easily could have been lost forever, made me realize how many other voices from this era remain unheard. It also reminds us that no matter the dark times that individuals encounter, music will continue to prevail as a sign of resilience and hope. As I continued researching, I discovered more composers whose works were suppressed, censored, or nearly erased due to the Holocaust. Bringing their music back to the stage feels not only like an act of artistic discovery but also a responsibility to honor their legacy and ensure that their voices can be heard and celebrated.

Tell us about your research process.

Lucy: I began my research over the summer by exploring the websites of Holocaust history organizations and foundations from around the world. My initial goal was to uncover lesser-known composers whose works were suppressed, banned, or lost due to Nazi persecution. Before I conceived the idea of a lecture recital, I envisioned compiling a comprehensive database that would serve as a freely accessible resource for musicians, scholars, and educators. By making this information widely available, I hoped to encourage more frequent performances of these works, ensuring that these composers and their legacies would not be forgotten. My long-term goal is to create a resource that not only preserves this music, but also fosters its revival in concert halls and classrooms worldwide and continues to educate individuals on Holocaust history through a musical lens.

If you could ask any composer, living or dead, a question, what would it be?

Lucy: This is such a tough question! I think in light of my research, I would want to ask one of the featured composers at my concert, Nico Richter, the following question: Despite the horrific conditions you faced, you continued to compose — what drove you to keep creating music in the face of such horrors? Did you see your compositions as a form of resistance, a way to preserve your identity and humanity in unimaginable conditions, or perhaps as a message for the future? If you had survived, how do you think your musical voice would have evolved, and what impact would you have hoped to make on the world of music?